“It makes sense now because he stole it.”Simon’s voice hardened, outrage simmering just beneath the surface.
I understood his anger, but I was more conflicted than him.My relationship with Morgan aside, I genuinely liked Parker.He was a good man, a smart man.I just didn’t understand why he’d do something like this.
Simon stood and paced to the window, his shoulders rigid.“We need to catch him in the act.”
I nodded in agreement, expecting him to suggest surveillance or more accounting reviews.Instead, he said, “I say we invest another million.”
I stared at him in shock.“You want to give himmoremoney to steal?”
Simon’s jaw tightened.“I want to hire a computer programmer to set up a back door in GalvaTech’s system so we have the ability to monitor the account in real time.If he makes a move to embezzle more, we’ll have irrefutable proof.Timestamps, login credentials, everything.”
Logically, I knew it was the right move but it still felt like a betrayal of not just Morgan, but her whole family.They’d welcomed me with kindness and appreciation for what I could bring to the company.Samuel had treated me with respect from the beginning.And I hated that I couldn’t confide in Morgan, that I was keeping something so monumental from her that could potentially damage our fragile relationship.But for now, I knew I didn’t have a choice.
I also couldn’t allow Parker to keep draining the business and stealing the money we’d invested in the company.And stealing from his own family too.
“Okay,” I said finally.“I’ll talk to Samuel about investing another million tomorrow.You handle the programmer.”
Simon nodded, satisfied.I wished I felt the same.
All I could do now was hope that when the truth came out, it didn’t destroy a good family—and didn’t completely shatter the woman I loved.
***
Once the backdoor system was in place and the extra money invested, it took three days.Three days of waiting, watching the system and financial accounts, and me, hoping—stupidly—that we were wrong.That it was someone else working late and moving the money around.That Parker wasn’t cable of embezzling from his own family.
But late last night, a transfer went through, moved to one of the shell accounts we’d identified.Fifty grand.And the programmer traced it cleanly back to one computer.Parker’s.Logged in under his name, with his passcode, with his IP address.There was no doubt any longer who was transferring the funds for their own personal gain.
Simon wanted to contact the authorities immediately, but I talked him into waiting a couple of days, to give me a chance to handle it a different way.I wasn’t even sure what I planned to do, but I knew it had to start with telling Morgan so she wasn’t blindsided.
My heart sat like a rock in my chest as I arrived at her apartment.She’d been out of the office most of the day in meetings, and I was grateful because I knew she’d pick up on the fact that something was bothering me right away.
This was our second dinner at her place this week.Last time, I’d been able to push my concerns about Parker aside and just be present with her.We’d had an enjoyable meal, we’d conversed and kept things light, ending the night with her bent over the back of the couch and me losing my mind inside her.I wanted that again.I wanted to grab her, bury my face in her neck, and pretend that I wasn’t about to fracture her entire world.
But I couldn’t.It was bad enough that I’d kept everything from her until now.The guilt I carried was festering inside me.I couldn’t hold back the truth any longer.
I forced myself to knock, and she opened the door with a smile that made my chest ache.I caught the scent of garlic and tomato sauce, but as delicious as the meal smelled, I had zero appetite.
She greeted me with a kiss, but she must have sensed my reluctance because she pulled back, her smile instantly fading.Her hand came up to cup my cheek, her thumb brushing my skin.
“Liam?”Her gaze searched mine.“What’s wrong?”
It was terrifying how in sync we were.How well she already knew me.But what I had to tell her tonight was going to be the first true test of our relationship.
“We need to talk,” I said, my voice rougher than I’d intended.
“Okay…” She looked confused, and concerned.“Do you want a drink first?Or dinner?”
I shook my head.“No, not yet.”
I took her hand.It felt small and warm in mine, and I gave it a gentle squeeze before leading her over to the brown suede couch in the living room.I sat down and pulled her onto the cushion next to me, turning so I could face her fully.
Her posture was visibly tense.“Liam, you’re scaring me.What’s going on?”
I kept hold of her hand, rubbing my thumb across her knuckles, trying to find the words.Every way I’d rehearsed this in my head sounded wrong.Everything about this was fucking gut-wrenching and I had to force myself to speak.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I said, swallowing hard.“Something I should have told you sooner but I was waiting until I had proof.”
Her brow furrowed.“Proof of what?”
